Current-power transmuter.



y N. R. SMITH. CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTER.

APPLICATION FILED DBG. 27, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I l l www- www.

Ill

aoLuMBlA PMNOGRAPH cu.,WAsH|NOTON. D. C.

N. R. SMITH.

CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTER. APPLICATION FILED 1320.27, 1909.

1,030,835. Patented June 25, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA FLANORAPM CO..WASHINGTON. D. c.

N. R. SMITH.

CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 27, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

HUI

lll

Miri emr/ar:

@zal

CoLuMBlA PLANoanAPM co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

N. R. SMITH.

CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTRR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 27, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4f @Rui N. R. SMITH.

CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTER. APPLICATION FILED 13110.27, 190s.

1,030,835, Patented June 25, 1912.

I a SHEETS-SHEET e.

O lll 'Il o @wuz im? I mmm/33m l if@ cnLuMBIA PLANOGRAPHco.,w/\SH|NGTON. r1.6A

N. R. SMITH.

CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTEE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1120.27, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEBT 7.

N. R. SMITH.

CURRENT POWER TRANSMUTBB. APPLIoATIoN-PILED 1920.27, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

witnessed: Y rwenof,

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPM co.. wAsHlNn'roN. D. c.

M"TED STATES PATENT FFICE.

NORMAN R. SMITH, OF PASCO, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO HYDRO PATENT POWERCO., OF PORTLAND, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF OREGON.

CURRENT-POWER TRANSMUTER.

Application led December 27, 1909.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN R. SMITH, a

, citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pasco, Franklincounty, State of Tashington, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Current-Power Transmuters, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a partthereof.

My invention has for its object to provide a current-power transmutingdevice, that is, a device which transforms the power obtainable from theflowing current of a stream and utilize it for practical purposes; andmy device embodies the following features: A support for each of theextremities of an endless traveling power-belt, one of such supportsfixed in position, and may consist of a. moored float, or a platform, onthe shore adapted to movement on a vertical axis, as convenient; theother support is a float adrift. in the current. On the supports aremounted rotatable drums over which travels the power-belt, the latterbeing driven by the impact of the current of the stream against a seriesof blades pendent from the power-belt, and the support, which is adrift,

`is held in down-stream position by the cur the water, they will exposeonly a minimum area to the wind. The span of the powerbelt is supportedon rotating drums mounted on pontoons located intermediate the supportsof the ends of the power-belt; the supports and the 4pontoons beingconnected, preferably by adjustable means, in series. The periphery ofthe drums, and the related surface of the power-belt., are adapted toengage eachother when in contact. The return section of the power-beltlies on the upper part of the periphery of the intermediate drums, andthe outgoing, driven section of the power-belt is held by the impactofthe current against the blades, and the adaptation of the latter to thatpurpose, against t-he under portion of the periphery of the intermediatedrums, so as to cause the latter to be positively rotated, in 'thepassage of the power-belt, and by such rotation to apply a driving forcethe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 535,179.

power-belt, and facilitating the work of the power-belt as a whole. Torelieve the strain, due to the weight of the return section of thepower-belt, the latter is preferably adapted to float on the surface ofthe water. Means are provided for preventing any u ndue strain orfriction of the powerbelt on the drums supporting its extremities; andmeans are provided for shift-ing the position of the down-streamfloating support, and thus the down-stream end of my device, so as toswing the latter to any convenient angle relative to the current, or toswing it temporarily out of the way, to allow sea-way to a passingvessel. These features and other details of my current motor, as well asits principle of operation, are more readily understood from theaccompanying drawings, and the description thereof hereinafter setforth.

In the drawings: Figures l and la taken together, show a side elevationof the opposite extremity of my device, and illustrates its generalarrangement; Fig. 2 is a top view of the anchored or fixed floatsupporting the drum around which runs one extremity of the power-belt ofmy device; this float being represented as placed adjacent to ay wharf,and this view also illustrating means for utilizing the power developedby my device in the form of a pump, as convenient for irrigatingpurposes; Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the intermediate drums withpontoons on which the same are supported, and means for connecting thesame to the iioats supporting the extremities of the' power-belt, theintermediate drums supporting the span of the power-belt, and beingadapted to facilitate travel thereof, that the cooperating devices, bythe driven section of the power-belt, will rotate the intermediatedrums, and the latter will in turn exert a driving force upon the returnend of the power-belt; Fig. t is an end elevation of parts shown in Fig.3; Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the mode of hingedly attaching impactblades to the power-belt; Fig. 6 is an end elevation illustrating thesame construction; Fig. 7 is a detail, on larger scale, of meansprovided for alining the draft members, componentparts of Vmy powerbelt, on which the impact blades are hinged; Fig. S isa diagrammaticplan of my device anchored in proximity to one shore of the stream, asin practice; Figs. 9 and 10 represent, respectively, a sectional topview and a sectional end elevation of the drums mounted on the floatssupporting the opposite extremity of the power-belt; Fig. 11

is a top View of the down-stream oat sup porting the down-stream looseend of the power-belt, and this view also illustrates the provision ofdrums on which are wound the down-stream ends of cables connecting thefloats of my device, the purpose of which arrangement will be lclearlyset forth in the body of the specification; Figs. 12, 13 and 14 arediagrammatic illustrations of my current-power transmuter and ofrudder-like means therewith combined by which the current motor iscaused to assume any position relative to the current of ther st-ream orthe shore line; Fig. 15 shows a portion of the endless power-belt of mydevice adapted to comprise only a single, central hauling cable; andFig. 16 is a det-ail of one 0f the spacers of the single hauling cable,p, l), to which a blade is hinged.

In the outset of my description it will be well to state that I havediscovered that a current-power transmuter, or motor, of the characterreferred to, will give greater eiciency, if the support of its up-streamend alone be fixed in position, by means permitting movement 0n avertical axis, and the support for the other extremity be free to driftwith, and adapt itself to, the course of the current. One reason forthis, apparently, is that the drifting end of such device canaccommodate itself to the iow of the current, and is more effectivelyacted upon by the latter; it also permits unlimited length in thepower-belt, and, of course, the longer the latter the greater the powerdeveloped and transmitted. Furthermore, by reason of being able toadjust the position of the drifting end of my device at any con? venientangle, I can favor the same and promote its efficiency, by causing suchdrifting end to become positioned at such oblique angle to the currentthat the foremost impact blades will be more or less exposed to theforce of the current, and will not be entirely covered by the rearwardimpact blades.

Referring in the first instance to Fig. 2, which shows t-he up-streamfloat of my device and which is moored in place: a represents the shoreline, from which extends a wharf b, and the float c being moored closetothe wharf by cables (l, cl', the opposite ends of which are fastenedat some convenient point 11p-stream. On the float c is mounted a pump e,the inlet of which (not shown), itwill be assumed, is located in thebottom of the float, and the pump is provided with an outlet at f. Tothe latter is clamped a pipe g, which is extended from the float to anyconvenient point on the shore, the extension being accomplished by anyconvenient means adapting the pipe to accommodate any movement of thefloat by swells or tide.

O-n the end of the pump-shaft h is mounted a sprocket wheel it', onwhich runs one end of a sprocket-chain z, which provides the connectionbetween the pump and the driven sprocket-wheel j on the drum j. The

drum y" is operatively supported on the ioat by arms k. The drum jcomprises lateral flanges jz adapted to hold the endless powerbelt, p,b," in place. On one end of the drumshaft is mounted' a brake-wheel Z,encompassed by a brake-band m, thrown on and off by a lever 0, affixedto a shaft n, and thus provide the means for controlling the rotation ofthe drum j. Over the drum y" runs one end of the power-belt, p, b, andthe oppo-site end of the latter is supported on the drum mounted on thefloat 12, shown in Fig. 11, and which are again referred to.

The power-belt, p, Z), is conveniently made of a series of cylindricaldraft-bars p, made of wood, so as to be buoyant, and said draft bars areconnected at their ends by cables g, g', which also represent the lowertransmuting cables.

To adapt the power-belt, p, 79, to be driven by the current, it isprovided with hinged impact blades t, set at predetermined distancesapart, and the impact blades arerendered feathery, that is to say, theimpact blades on the return section of the powerbelt being adapted toexpose only a minimum area against the wind coming from an iup-streamdirection, so as to prevent such wind exerting any retarding action uponmy power transmuter to any interfering degree. These details will beagain referred to.

To cause the cylindrical draft-bars of the power-belt to have operativecontact with the drums over which the power-belt runs, and which arerotated by it, the periphery of each of the drums is made withlongitudinal, parallel flutes or grooves 24, for the draft-bars to liein. This feature will be readily understood by inspecting and comparing,for example, Figs. 1, 1a, 3 and 4.

When my device comprises two cables, like g, g (both, as alreadymentioned, being draft cables) it is required thatrboth cables travelatthe same speed, in'order that my device may properly operate, and itis further required that the draft bars p be as nearly parallel to eachother as possible, so

that in the course of travel of the powerbelt the draft-bars will remainin proper relation to the longitudinal grooves 24 of the drums. Toaccomplish this adjustment, the

draft-bars p, to which the impact blades are hinged,y have mounted ontheir ends metal caps u, clamped in place by means of a per* pendicularbolt e, the head fw of which is countersunk, so as to adapt the rollerends to lie in the grooves 24 of the drums. The ends of the draft-bars pare further provided with grooves w, y (see Fig. 7). rl`hrough thegroove .fr extend the cables g, g', and the ends of the draft-bars p areclamped to the cables g, g', by Ushaped clamping bolts a, provided insaid caps u, and short spacing pieces 2 are .inserted to prevent theclamping strain injuring the cables g, g.

When constructing the power-belt of my device, the shaft-bars p, p arefirst arranged on the cables g, g, as nearly parallel as possible, thenthe power-belt is permitted to travel with the current of the stream,and in the course of such travel the draft-bars, passing over the drumsj on the float c, are set up close to each other, so as to becomeproperly related to each other and the peripheral grooves of the drum j.Then so adjusted t-he draft-bars will have been arranged as shown in thedrawings, and thus without any interfering slack between them. Thisadjustment of the draft-bars must be maintained throughout the workingof my current-power transmuter. The ends of the cables g, g are unitedso as to render them continuous in any convenient way.

It will be noted that by the described adjustment of the draft-bars theywill also be so positioned as to travel at the same radial distance fromthe axial center of the drums on the floats of my device.

The caps fw are provided with projecting portions u having alongitudinal bore 3, so as to be adapted to constitute bearings for thetrunnions 7 of the brackets 5, to which the blades t are bolted by meansof bolts 6. The brackets 5 are provided with angular projecting portions8, adapted to bear upon adjacent draft bars, and in so doing to hold theimpact blades at the desired angle, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The purpose of the angular position, to be noted from Fig. 1, at whichthe impact blades t are held, by reason of the const-ruction described,is to cause the impinging force of the current to aid in holding thedriven section of the power-belt on the surface of the water, and,incidentally, to hold the draft bars of the power-belt of the drivensection of the latter in operative contact with the iiuted periphery ofthe intermediate drums 9, thereby rotating the latter and causing themto exert a pulling force on the return section of the power-belt,thereby eliminating, more or less, the carrying of the dead weight ofthe span of the return section of the po-werbelt, and also facilitatingthe return travel of the latter.

The intermediate drums 9 are located at uniform distances apart betweenthe floats.

supporting the extremity of the power-belt.

Said intermediate drums are mounted on pontoons 10, see Fig 3. Thepontoons 10 are fastened to cables 13, 14, the ends of which arefastened to the floats c and 12.

The bearings or boxes 16, for the journal ends 17 of the intermediatedrums 9, may be secured to the cables 13, 14, if convenient. On theextremities of the journal ends 17 are affixed set collars 1S andshoulders 17a are provided to properly journal the intermediate drums.

The 11p-stream ends of the cables 13, 14 are fastened to the float c bystraps 15. The down-stream ends of the cables 13, 14 extend throughguides 19, 20 and wind on drums 21, 22, mounted on the down-stream fioat12. By the cables 13, 14 the floats and the intermediate pontoons aremaintained in working alinement, and said cables, in combination withthe drums 21, 22, also provide the means by which the power-belt iskeptin proper tension, since it regulates the distance between the drumsj and 11 supporting the opposite ends of the power-belt. Furthermore, bywinding up t-he cables 13, 14 on the drums 21, 22, the float 12 may behauled close to the oat c and in so doing the power-belt loaded on theformer, when it is required to move my device from one location toanother. When hauling the power-belt on the float 12, the pontoons aredisconnected from the cables 13, 14. The drum 11, holding thedown-stream end of the power-belt, is, as evident, a. duplicate of thedrum j holding the tip-stream end, except it has no brake forcontrolling the rotation of the drum.

The particular mechanical construction of my device is not important tomy invention. Convenient modes of construction are illustrated in Figs.9 and 10, which show each drum as comprising two heads or ends 4,provided with Hanges 23, on which is bolted a cylindrical shell 25,provided on its eXterior face with longitudinal grooves 24.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14 the up-stream end of my device is represented asmoored to a liXed point 2G. The pontoons 10 of the intermediate drums 9and the down-stream float 12 are severally provided with rudderf blades27, connected by cables 28, 29, passing over pulleys 30, 31, andoperated by a lever 32, o-n the float c, and by the adjustment of therudder-blades the downstream end of my current-power transmuter can beswung out into the stream, or onto the shore as convenient, or to allowsea-way to a passing vessel. Under ordinary conditions, however, thetail or down-stream end of my device is allowed to become positioned asit may be by the flow of the current.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have shown how myVA device may be modified so as tocomprise only a single central draft cable 33. The draft-bars 34, towhich the impact blades 39 are hinged, in this instance are composed ofdivided members 35, 36 united by an intermediate member 37, having amedial groove in which the draft cable 33 is located and secured by aU-bolt 88.

The ends of the draft-bars 34, as well as thev intermediate draft-bars40, are connected by stay cables 41, 42. Inother respects theconstruction of the power-belt is substantially as above described; and,as obvious, the type of power-belt last described and illustrated inFigs. and 16 is adapted to run over the drum-s just the same as theother type of power-belt.

In place of the rudders any convenient means may be used by which theposition of the drifting end of my device can be laterally shifted asrequired.

The buoyancy of the draft-bars 79, p is conveniently used as a help tofloat the outgoing, driven section of the power-belt; but

the draft-bars may, nevertheless, be made of any material, since theimpact of the current against the oblique impact blades of thepower-belt will hold the driven section of the latter to the surface ofthe stream. Then the device is in operation, the powerbelt will be sotaut that one can wall; over it.

I claim:

1. A current-power transmuting device comprising a support fixed inplace by means permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support being adrift and held down stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades; means providing aworkingv engagement between the periphery of the driven drimi and therelated face of the power-belt when in contact; and means for laterallyshifting the position of the floating support. Y

2., A current-power transmuting device comprising support fixed in placeby means permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on such Msupport.; a companion, floating support, and

a drum rotatably mounted thereon, said floating support being adrift andheld down stream by the current; pontoons located between said supportsand rotatable drums thereon mounted; connections between said supports,to which connections the pontoons are also attached; an endlesspower-belt traveling over the drums and provided with a series of impactblades; means providing a working engagement between the periphery ofthe driven drum and the related face of thev power-belt when in Contact;said impact blades being adapted, when subjected to the force of thecurrent, to assume an Oblique position so as to cause thel current toimpel the power-belt against the periphery of the intermediate drums andthus support and dri-ve the latter; and means for laterally shifting theposition of the floating support.

3. A current-power transmuting device comprising a support fixed inplace by means permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, ioating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support bein-g adrift and held down stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said. supports, to whichconnections the pontoons `are also attached; an endless pow'er-belttraveling over the drums and provided with a series of impact blades;means providing a working engagement between the periphery of the drivendrum and the related face of the power-belt when in contact; said impactblades being adapted, when subjected to the force of the current, toassume an oblique position so as t0V cause the current to impel thepower-belt against the periphery of the intermediate drums and thussupport and drive the latter; rudders' on the drifting float and theintermediate pontoons, and means adapted to operate all the rudlders inunison.

Il. A current-power transmitting device comprising a support fixed inplace by means permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element inclu-ding a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support being adrift and held down stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; cables connecting the {loa-ting support to the fixedsupport, and to which the pontoons are detachably secured in series, andmeans on one of said supports adapted to wind up the cables and thusdraw the supports together; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades; means providing aworking engagement between the periphery of the driven drum and thevrelated face of the power-belt when in contact; said impact blades beingadapted, when subjected to the force of the current, to assume anoblique position so as to cause the current to impel the power-beltagainst the periphery of the intermediate drums and thus support anddriveV the latter; rudders on the drifting oat and the intermediate rooi os

iro

pontoons, and means adapted to operate all the rudders in unison.

5. A current-power transmuting device comprising a support fixed inplace by means permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a brake element by which to control the revolution of the drum;a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mounted thereon,said floating support being adrift and held down stream by the current;pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drums thereonmounted; connections between said supports, to which connections'thepontoons are also attached; an endless power belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades; means providing aworking engagement between the periphery of the driven drum and therelated face of the power-belt when in contact; said impact blades beingadapted, when subjected to the force of the current, to assume anoblique position so as to cause the current to mpel the power-beltlagainst the periphery of the intermediate drums and thus support anddrive the latter; and means for laterally shifting the position of thefloating support.

6. In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in place bymeans permitting its movement on a vertical aXis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support being adrift and held down stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades, the latter soarranged that while the power-belt is traveling in the return directionthey will expose only a minimum surface to the wind; means providing aworking engagement between the periphery of the driven drum and therelated face of the power-belt when in contact; and means for laterallyshifting the position of the floating support.

7. In a current transmuting device, a support fiXed in place by meanspermitting its movement on a vertical axis, and a powertransmittingelement including a rotatable drum mounted on such support; a companion,floating support, and a drum rotatably mounted thereon, said floatingsupport being adrift and held down stream by the current; pontoonslocated between said supports and rotatable drums thereon mounted;connections between said supports, to which connections the pontoons arealso attached;

an endless power-belt traveling over the drums and provided with aseries of impact blades; the periphery of the driven drums being flutedlongitudinally, and said powerbelt comprising parallel cables; acontinuous series of transverse draft-bars adj ustably attached to saidcables and adapt-ed to become seated in said peripheral flutes; andmeans for laterally shifting the position of the floating support.

' S. In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in place bymeans permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element includinga rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support being adrift and held down stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades; the periphery of thedriven drums being fluted longitudinally, and said power-belt comprisingparallel cables; a continuous series of transverse, buoyant draft-barsadjustably attached to said cables and adapted to become seated in saidperipheral flutes; and means for laterally shifting the position of thefloating support.

9. In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in place bymeans permitting its movement on a vertical aXis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating su port being adrift and held down stream y thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and'provided with a series of impact blades; the periphery of thedriven drums being fiuted longitudinally, and said power-belt comprisingparallel cables; a continuous series of transverse, buoyant draft-barsadjust-ably attached to said' cables and adapted to become seated insaid peripheral flutes; said impact blades being adapted, when subjectedto the force of the current, to assume an oblique position so as tocause the current to impel the power-belt against the periphery of theintermediate drums and thus support and drive the latter; and means forlaterally shifting the position of the floating support.

10. In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in place bymeans permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a l

companion, floating support, anda drum rotatably :mounted thereon, saidfloating .support being adrift and vheld down stream by the current;pontoons located between said sup-ports and rotatable drums thereonmounted; cables connecting the oating support -to Ythe lfixed support,and to which the pon-toons are detachably secured in series, and meanson one of said supports adapted 10 to wind up the cables and thus draw'the supports together; an endless power-belt traveling over the drumsand provided with a series of impact blades; means providing a workingengagement between the periphery of the driven drum and the related taceof the power-belt when in contact; and means for laterally shifting theposition of the floating support.

11. In a current-power transmuting device, a support lixed in place bymeans permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support being adrift and held down stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between Vsaid supports, to whichconnections the pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belttraveling over the drums and provided with a series of impact blades;the periphery of the driven drums being tluted longitudinally, and saidpower-belt comprising parallel cables; and a continuous series oftransverse draft-bars adjustably attached to said fcables and adapted tobecome seated in said peripheral flutes.

'4o 12.r In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in placeby means permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mountedthereon, said floating support being `adrift and lhelddown stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable `drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons dare also attached; an endless power-belt traveling overthe drums and provided with a series of impact blades; the periphery ofthe driven drums being fiuted longitudinally,

and said power-belt comprising parallel cables; and a continuous seriesof transverse, buoyant draft-bars adjustably attached to said cables andadapted to become seated in said peripheral liutes.

13. In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in place bymeans .permitting its movement on a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a

companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mounted thereon, saidfloating support being adr-ift and held down stream by the current;pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drums thereonmounted; vconnections between ksaid supports, to which connections thepontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling `over thedrums and provided vwith a series of impact blades; means providing aworking engagement between the periphery of the driven drum and therelated face of the power-belt when in contact; and said impact bladesbeing adapted, when subjected to the force of the current, to assume anoblique position so as to cause the current to impel the power-'beltagainst the periphery of the intermediate drums and thus support anddrive the latter.

14. In a current-power transmuting :device, ya support ixed in place bymeans permitting its movement in a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport;

a companion, floating support, and .a dru-m rotatably mounted thereon,said floating support being adrift Iand held Adown stream by thecurrent; pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt `traveling overAthe drums and provided with a series of impact blades; the periphery ofthe driven `drums being tluted longitudina'lly, and said power-beltcomprising parallel cables; a continucms series of transverse draft-barsadjustably attached to said cables vand `adapted to Ibecome seated insaid peripheral flutes; and said impact blades being adapted, whensubjected to the force ofthe current, to assume an oblique position soas to cause the Icurrent to impel the power-belt against the peripheryof the intermediate drums and thus support and drive the latter.

15. In a current-power transmuting -device, a :support .fixed -in placeby mea-ns permitting its movement lon a vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport;

a companion, 'floating support, and a drum rotatably mounted thereon,said floating support `being adrift and held down stream by thecurrent.; `pontoons vlocated between said supports and rotatable drumsthereon mounted; connections between said supports, to which connectionsthe pontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades; the periphery of thedriven drums being fluted longitudinally, and said power-belt comprisingparallel cables; a continuous series of transverse, buoyant draft-barsadjustably attached to said cables and adapted to become seated in saidperipheral lutes; and said impact blades being adapted, when subjectedto the force of the current, to assume an oblique position so as tocause the current to impel the power-belt against the periphery of theintermediate drums and thus support and drive the latter.

16. In a current-power transmuting device, a support fixed in place bymeans permitting its movement on a vertical aXis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a brake element by which to control the revolution of the drum;a companion, ioating support, and a drum rotatably mounted thereon, saidfloat-ing support being adrift and held down stream by the current;pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drums thereonmounted; connections between said supports, to which connections thepontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a` series of impact blades; and means providingaworking engagement between the periphery of the driven drum and therelated face of the power-belt when in contact. l

17. A current-power transmuting device comprising a support fixed inplace by means permitting its movement on a Vertical axis, and apower-transmitting element including a rotatable drum mounted on suchsupport; a brake element by which to control the revolution of the drum;a companion, floating support, and a drum rotatably mounted thereon,said floating support being adrift and held down stream by the current;pontoons located between said supports and rotatable drums thereonmounted; connections between said supports, to which connections thepontoons are also attached; an endless power-belt traveling over thedrums and provided with a series of impact blades; means providing aWorking engagement between the periph ery of the driven drum and therelated face of the power-belt when in contact; and said impact bladesbeing adapted, when subjected to the force of the current, to assume anoblique position so as to cause the current to impel the power-beltagainst the periphery of the intermediate drums and thus support anddrive the latter.

NORMAN R. SMITH. Witnesses:

WV. A. CLELAND, CECIL LONG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

